The Detroit Lions’ surprising effort to bring back one of the NFL’s premier interior linemen from recent years has taken an abrupt turn for the worse.
Frank Ragnow — a four-time Pro Bowl center who retired in June before deciding on Wednesday to make a comeback — arrived at the facility Friday to complete his physical and finalize paperwork. Instead of clearing him, the team determined he had a Grade 3 hamstring tear, the most severe level of the injury, which would sideline him for the entire remainder of the regular season.
In other words, just days after announcing his intention to return, Ragnow’s second stint with Detroit appears to be over before it even began.
“Frank has always put the team first and embodies toughness. He will always remain a member of this organization,” the Lions said in a statement.
.A first-round selection in 2018 (20th overall out of Arkansas), Ragnow quickly became the centerpiece of Detroit’s offensive interior. Over seven seasons, he made 96 starts and earned four Pro Bowl appearances along with three second-team All-Pro honors.
His unexpected retirement this summer caught many off guard, and his decision to reverse course late in the season seemed like the perfect boost for a Lions offensive line dealing with multiple injuries.
However, a Grade 3 hamstring injury typically involves a near-total or complete tear. Recovery often spans months, and in many cases includes surgery followed by extensive rehabilitation. Such a timeline eliminates any realistic hope of him returning to the field this year.
Detroit, now 7–5 and sitting third in the NFC North after their Thanksgiving loss to Green Bay, faces a critical stretch to stay alive in the postseason race.
Their upcoming schedule includes home matchups against the Cowboys on December 4 and the Steelers on December 21, plus road games against the Rams on December 14, the Vikings on Christmas Day, and the Bears in Week 18.
With Chicago (9–3) and Minnesota (4–7) ahead of them in the division, Detroit has little margin for error down the stretch.
